WEST BLOOMFIELD (MI) – There was mucho wailing and gnashing of teeth here in Flyerland when Kostas Antetokounmpo decided to withdraw from UD and enter his name for the upcoming NBA Draft. How dare he, after Bucky Bockhorn had finally figured out how to pronounce “Antetokounmpo!”

Let’s face it, UD doesn’t have a ton of history with basketball players leaving early for the NBA. The list consists of only one name:

Johnny Davis

“FTS” has been following the Flyers long enuf to remember when JD made what he told me when I interviewed him was “a very, very tough decision” to forego his senior year at UD. His choice was made solely because his family here in Detroit needed the financial support. It turned out to be a good one for him, as JD was drafted by the Portland Trailblazers and won an NBA Championship in his rookie season.

Kostas is another story. Flyer fans pretty much knew when he arrived on campus for his redshirt season that there was a strong possibility that Greek Freak 2.0 would not finish his four years of eligibility. One only need look at the meteoric rise of his brother Giannis to see why. And we were right.

Now the TUP (Jay Bilas’ pet phrase “tremendous upside potential”) that we all observed last year will be nurtured and developed to the benefit of a pro team, be it here or overseas.

Just because he is gone doesn’t mean we should stop rooting for the big fella. Yeah, I'm sure AG would have preferred that he had waited until the end of the semester to leave so that it doesn’t affect UD’s team APR, but when you really don’t want to be in school, why stay? Even though he was only here for two years and suited up for one, Kostas will always be a Flyer.

So, let’s look at what has been written and videotaped about Kostas’ pursuit of a career in professional basketball:

FLYER FAITHFUL
Best college basketball fans in the country. Knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and loyal. Help to create one of the toughest home courts in the nation at UD Arena. Over 12,000 fans a game put the Flyers in the Top-30 nationally in attendance. Fan spirit and support growing to other UD sports and athletic programs as well.

Bucky Bockhorn

ARLEN 'BUCKY' BOCKHORN
Known as "The Legend", Bockhorn played basketball for Tom Blackburn in the 1950s and went on to a career in the NBA. Tabbed NBA Rookie of the Year in his first season, he also played alongside Oscar Robertson for the now-defunct Cincinnati Royals. Buckhorn has been the color man for UD basketball games for years and teams with play-by-play announcer Larry Hansgen on NewsTalk Radio 1290AM and 95.7FM.